TOPIC:
THE GIFT OF DIVINE LIFE
CHRISTMAS
DAY HOMILY, Dec 25, 2022
1)
STORY
John
was a 10-year-old orphan living in a very strict orphanage. All the children had to work long hours each
day weeding in the garden, washing dishes in the kitchen, and cleaning the
rooms. They all looked forward to the
one happy day in the year, Christmas, because they would get a spiritual treat,
an orange, provided they obeyed all the rules. When Christmas came, all waited in line for
the precious gift of an orange. When it
came to John’s turn to get an orange, he was not given an orange as
punishment for breaking a rule during the year, Instead, he was sent up to
the dormitory for the day. While resting
on his bed, he heard footsteps. His
friends came to him and gave him the gift of an orange. He was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. As he was thinking how his friends were able
to get this extra orange, he noticed that the outer skin of the orange was
broken and each slice of the orange was carefully placed together. He now knew that each of his friends gave a
slice of his orange to John. T his orange was a gift of love to make John happy
on Christmas day.
2)
GOSPEL, JOHN 1:1-18
A)
GIFT OF LIFE.
JESUS
CAME TO GIVE US DIVINE LIFE: “What came to be through him was life.”
B) CHILDREN OF GOD.
We
read, “To those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of
God.”
3)
APPLICATION TO LIFE
A)
THE GIFT OF DIVINE LIFE.
When Jesus gives us the great gift of divine life, there is a profound change in us. It’s like when a sick person regains his health, a poor man becomes rich, a blind man can see, and a prisoner is freed. Jesus gives us the great gift of divine life.
B)
CHILDREN OF GOD.
Jesus
gives us the power to become children of God. As children of God, God becomes our heavenly
father, Jesus becomes our elder brother, the Holy Spirit becomes our guide,
heaven becomes our home, and the Catholic Church becomes our family. Jesus makes us children of God.
4)
CONCLUSION
Just
as John received the gift of an orange at Christmas, we receive the gift of
divine life by becoming children of God. Christmas is a joyful feast because Jesus
gives us the very precious gift of divine life. We thank Jesus for giving us
the gift of love.
